At the heart of your California Lemon Law claim over a defective motor vehicle is the manufacturer’s warranty. A motor vehicle is considered a “lemon” in California if a significant problem covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty remains unrepaired after a reasonable number of attempts. The vehicle owner may demand that the manufacturer provide them a total refund of money spent on the faulty car.
Aftermarket parts are any parts in a vehicle that the manufacturer did not produce. They can complicate a Lemon Law claim because the manufacturer’s warranty applies only to the original vehicle. A car manufacturer may not be held responsible for defects caused by aftermarket parts. This means installing an aftermarket automotive part in your car may ruin your opportunity to file a Lemon Law claim – but not always.
If your repeated attempts to have a warrantied problem with your vehicle repaired have failed, your vehicle may be a lemon. The Barry Law Firm can help you pursue a Lemon Law claim in California at no charge to you. Contact us today for an initial legal consultation, and let us answer your questions about your right to compensation for your faulty vehicle under California’s Lemon Law protections.
California’s Lemon Law and Vehicle Warranties
California’s Lemon Law is what determines a car is a “lemon.” It says a vehicle is a lemon if the manufacturer has failed to resolve a problem that is covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty and substantially impairs the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. However, the manufacturer must be allowed a reasonable number of repair attempts. The owner of a lemon has the right to demand that the manufacturer refund the vehicle’s purchase price, along with associated taxes, fees, and other expenses.
Car warranties generally do not prohibit the use of aftermarket parts. In fact, the federal Magnuson Moss Warranty Act protects consumers from having their warranty voided simply because they have installed aftermarket parts – unless the aftermarket parts are causing the issue. An aftermarket part or vehicle modification becomes a problem when it causes a defect that the warranty would otherwise cover.
Vehicle Modifications and How They Impact Lemon Law Claims
When you pursue a Lemon Law claim in California, you ask a court to require your vehicle’s manufacturer to honor the terms of the warranty they issued to you when you bought their vehicle. A vehicle’s warranty describes the conditions under which the manufacturer will repair, replace, or otherwise compensate you for problems that adversely affect your use and enjoyment of the vehicle they sold you at no cost to you.
The problem with using aftermarket parts or other vehicle modifications is that your vehicle’s manufacturer may claim that the unauthorized part or modification is the source of your vehicle’s problem. And because your problem is caused by something they did not sell you, they will say their warranty does not cover it. If the issue is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, it cannot be cited as the basis of a Lemon Law claim.
However, in some cases, the dealership has installed an aftermarket part to repair your vehicle. In that case, you may still be able to pursue a Lemon Law claim because the dealership has acted as an authorized agent of the manufacturer. It did come from them.
Vehicle Modifications That May Void a Lemon Law Claim
Lemon Law claims are based on defects covered by the manufacturer’s warranty that diminish a motor vehicle’s usability, safety, or value and have not been repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. Various aftermarket modifications to a vehicle, including the use of aftermarket replacement parts, could potentially void the warranty, such as:
- A lift kit, which negatively affects multiple parts of a vehicle’s suspension system
- Lowering the suspension, which affects alignment and tire wear and makes it easier for the underside of the vehicle to get damaged by scraping the road, speed bumps, or curbs
- Engine tuning for high performance, which could lead to engine damage
- Aftermarket car mods to make exhaust systems louder, which can raise temperatures and damage pistons, rings, cylinder walls, injectors, and other internal parts
- Aftermarket tires or rims, which may cause uneven wear of tires, brakes, and suspension components
- A new sound, entertainment, or communication system, which may cause electrical problems
- Custom headlights or taillights, which may be blamed for electrical system failures
- Decorative lighting, such as under-glow systems, wheel lights, engine bay lighting, and RGB lights, which may be blamed for electrical system failures
- Aftermarket air filters, which may be blamed for damage to the vehicle’s air conditioner
It’s one thing for an aftermarket modification to damage your vehicle, but it’s another if it is simply being blamed for a problem that should be repaired under your vehicle’s warranty. Work with the experienced Lemon Law attorneys at The Barry Law Firm to get an independent assessment of your vehicle’s problems and a legal opinion about your potential Lemon Law case.
Our Lemon Law Attorneys Can Help You
Modifying your vehicle or using aftermarket parts for repairs does not necessarily void your warranty or a Lemon Law claim. The Los Angeles Lemon Law attorneys of The Barry Law Firm can assess your defective vehicle and your prospects for recovering your purchase costs and more in a Lemon Law claim. California law requires auto manufacturers to pay the consumer’s legal fees in successful Lemon Law claims – and we’ll never charge you anything, no matter the outcome of your case.
We are California’s premier Lemon Law lawyers with a strong track record of obtaining justice for consumers like you. Schedule your FAST & FREE legal consultation today.
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